Assemblyman Frazier’s WETA Bill Passes Committee in 7-2 Vote

Assemblyman Jim Frazier’s AB 935 passed committee yesterday in a 7-2 vote. This would expand San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) Board from 5 to 7 members while ensuring representation from Contra Costa County.

This is huge because it ensures a local voice will be heard in future discussions that may effect Contra Costa County and the City of Antioch as they try and bring a ferry to East County.

In speaking with Frazier last night, he called the approval “a step in the right direction”.

According to the Bill, one member appointed by the Governor shall be a resident of the County of Contra Costa and shall be selected from a list of three nominees provided by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.

Also, one member appointed by the Governor shall be a resident of the County of San Mateo and shall be selected from a list of three nominees provided by the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.

It should be noted that Susan Bonilla was a coauthor of the Bill.

Here is the Bill

BILL NUMBER: AB 935	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Frazier
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Bonilla)

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to amend Section 66540.12 of the Government Code, relating
to the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation
Authority.

	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

   AB 935, as introduced, Frazier. San Francisco Bay Area Water
Emergency Transportation Authority: terms of board members.
   Existing law establishes the San Francisco Bay Area Water
Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) with specified powers and
duties, including, but not limited to, the authority to coordinate
the emergency activities of all water transportation and related
facilities within the bay area region, as defined.
   Existing law provides for a board of directors, 3 members of which
are appointed by the Governor and one each by the Senate Committee
on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly. Directors serve 6-year
terms.
   This bill would expand the number of members appointed by the
Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly to 2
members each. The bill would require that the initial terms of the
additional members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and the
Speaker of the Assembly pursuant to its provisions shall be 2 years
and 6 years, respectively. The bill would also require that one of
the members appointed by the Governor be selected from a list of 3
nominees provided by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and
one from a list of 3 nominees provided by the San Mateo County
Transportation Authority.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 66540.12 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   66540.12.  (a) The authority shall be governed by a board composed
of  five  seven  members, as follows:
   (1) Three members shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to
confirmation by the Senate. The Governor shall make the initial
appointment of these members of the board no later than January 11,
2008. 
   (A) One member appointed by the Governor shall be a resident of
the County of Contra Costa and shall be selected from a list of three
nominees provided by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
 
   (B) One member appointed by the Governor shall be a resident of
the County of San Mateo and shall be selected from a list of three
nominees provided by the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.

   (2)  One member   Two members  shall be
appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
   (3)  One member   Two   members
 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
   (b) Each member of the board shall be a resident of a county in
the bay area region.
   (c) Public officers associated with an area of government,
including planning or water, whether elected or appointed, may be
appointed to serve contemporaneously as members of the board. A
public agency shall not have more than one representative on the
board of the authority.
   (d) The Governor shall designate one member as the chairperson of
the board and one member as the vice chairperson of the board.
   (e) Except as provided in  subdivision (f)  
subdivisions (f) and (g)  , the term of a member of the board
shall be six years.
   (f) (1) The appointments next following the expiration of the
terms of the initial appointments shall be for the following terms:
   (A) Two of the members appointed by the Governor shall serve terms
of two years and one shall serve a term of six years.
   (B) The member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules shall
serve a term of four years.
   (C) The member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly shall
serve a term of four years.
   (2) Each member appointed after the expiration of the terms set
forth in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (1) shall
serve a term of six years. 
   (g) The initial terms for additional appointees of the Senate
Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly added to the
authority pursuant to the act that added this subdivision shall be
the following:  
   (1) The additional member appointed by the Senate Committee on
Rules shall serve a term of two years.  
   (2) The additional member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
shall serve a term of six years.  
   (g) 
    (h)  Vacancies shall be filled immediately by the
appointing power for the unexpired portion of the terms in which they
occur.